Met Officers To Be Asked If They Want To Carry Guns

[mikey4444]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-38547203

What do we all think about the routine arming of all Police Officers in London ?

[dannyk13]

Provided that they get some training then it's not a bad idea as any terrorist action comes without warning and there is not time to send for the Armed Response Team.

[grumpy01]

Although its something we don't wish to see, I fear that with the ever present threat of terrorist attacks and criminal gangs arming themselves, the arming of our Police Officers not just in London but all major cities is inevitable.

[youngmafbog]

End of an era, but we are pretty much there anyway.

All down to allowing evil and murderous teachings in this country. Many thanks to the right-on liberals for this if they had not howled 'racist' at every opportunity and thrown people in jail or out of the country then we would not be in this situation.

[Gromit]

It is bad enough the number they kill with Tasers, so I would not want them to carry guns.

I can think of no recent terrorist attack where an armed officer could have prevented it. German and French police carry guns but both have been attacked recently, so it does not act as a deterent.

[youngmafbog]

It's not just the deterrent though is it Gromit. How can you possible ask an unarmed person to go to a terrorist incident, or an armed robbery?

[grumpy01]

So,Gromit,if there was a full blown IS attack in London,you reckon the Police should be looking to arrest them only armed with a truncheon and handcuffs? I don't think so,do you?

[youngmafbog]

How many are killed with Tasers then Gromit. I've done some searches but cant find any independent corroboration of you statement. I'm sure you have got one as you made it so please, do share.

[dannyk13]

Gromit
// so it does not act as a deterent//
How on earth do you know whether anybody has been deterred or not?

[Gromit]

grumpy01

We have units of armed police available 24/7. We should use them. The muderers of Lee Rigby were quickly dealt with by specially trained marksmen.

[TWR]

100% for it, why should the police be subject to violence, intimidation by the likes of Izz heads who can not hold their ale, it should be throughout the major Cities not only London.

[Gromit]

dannyk13

My statement was about the terrorist attacks in Paris and Munich. They still occurred despite the police being armed. So the police here routinely carrying guns, will not make us any safer.

[youngmafbog]

But of course you have no idea if they have prevented anything, since if they did it would not have happened!

Any news on the Taser deaths link Gromit?

[Gromit]

Ymb,

// The death of the former footballer Dalian Atkinson after being Tasered by the police in Telford has prompted renewed concern about police use of the weapon. There have been at least 17 deaths linked to the use of Tasers since they were introduced in 2003. //

[TWR]

After reading what the Ambulance service goes through when picking up D--K heads that's Izzed out of their head, they should also be allowed to use the Taser for their own protection.

[Gromit]

You all seem to be rather jumping the gun here. The Home Office are against it and so are Scotland Yard. Until we the the result of this survey by the Police Union, we don't even know if the Officers want it.

[Baldric]

///100% for it, why should the police be subject to violence, intimidation by the likes of Izz heads who can not hold their ale///

Shoot the Drunks,that's a bit harsh in my opinion!

[dannyk13]

A previous survey of this resulted in the officers being overwhelmingly against being armed as a matter of course.

[andy-hughes]

This is a really tricky question, with no obvious ideal answer.

My initial reaction is to say no, because I do believe that criminals with guns are less likely to open fire on an officer who is unarmed. Coupled with that is the inevitable increase in incorrect split-second decisions where innocent people are shot.

That has to be weighed against the increase in gun crime and terrorism, but I honestly believe that the antidote to guns is not more guns.

[mikey4444]

I have mixed feeling about this issue.

It seems to me that when officers that are armed routinely, like we see in pubic places like airports, and railway stations, it appears to be a good deterrent. I am getting used to seeing heavily armed Policemen at Paddington ! The Armed Response Units seem to be very much in evidence whenever I am up in Town.

But when you look at cases like the Jean Charles de Menezes, I am not so sure.

We only have to look across the Atlantic to see what unfettered gun use by the Police is responsible for.

It will be interesting to see what the Police themselves say in this matter.
I have a feeling that there won't be a majority for routine arming, but I may be wrong of course.

[naomi24]

Good idea. Idealism doesn't work in the real world.